The publication of "Standards for Technological Literacy: Content for the Study of Technology" (ITEA/ITEEA, 2000/2002/2007) represented a major step forward in identifying the educational components necessary for life in a technological world. But this list of standards, though substantial, does not clearly identify the components that are most fundamental. In this article the authors describe an international effort to define the overarching, unifying themes, or big ideas, that cut across domains and thus give insight into the holistic nature of technology and engineering. Together with their main contexts, these overarching themes form a framework for developing curricula and classroom materials for technology and engineering education. (Contains 1 figure and 2 tables.)