Members of the technology and engineering education community have provided a clear message that (Standards for Technological Literacy) STL provides multiple opportunities to teach engineering concepts within K-12 education. This article will review recent research within technology education and the technological literacy standards ("Standards for Technological Literacy: Content for the Study of Technology/ STL, ITEA/ITEEA, 2000/2002/2007") to illustrate how technology education is positioned to address 21st century skills while simultaneously teaching engineering design to promote technological literacy. As the field of technology education reaches the intersection between embracing engineering design as a content focus and seizing opportunities to integrate subjects of science, engineering, and mathematics with technology education (STEM) it is important to identify the greater purpose of technology education.