The technology and engineering practices comprise abilities and disposition that are fundamental to student success. These practices help students engage with the human-designed products, systems and processes we use to satisfy our needs and wants.

TEP-1: Systems Thinking refers to the understanding that technologies contain interconnected components and that these technologies interact with the environments in which they operate and includes the universal systems model.

TEP-2: Creativity is the use of investigation, imagination, innovative thinking and physical skills to accomplish goals.

TEP-3: Making and Doing are at the heart of what make technology & engineering education so different from other fields. Students design, model, build and use technical products and systems.

TEP-4: Critical Thinking involves questioning, logical thinking, reasoning and elaboration in the process of making informed decisions. It also involves analytical thinking; an important component.

TEP-5: Optimism refers to a commitment to finding better solutions to design challenges through experimentation, modeling and adaptation. It reflects a positive view as well as persistence in looking for solutions to technological problems and challenges.

TEP-6: Collaboration refers to having the perspective, knowledge, capabilities and willingness to seek out and include team members when working on design challenges.

TEP-7: Communication in technology and engineering can be either to define problems by gaining an understanding of the wants and needs of the user of technology or as a means of developing and explaining choices made in the design process.

TEP-8: Attention to Ethics is at the core of being a human in society. Attention to ethics means focusing on the impact of technological products, systems and process on others and on the environment. Students should evaluate risks and consider trade-offs in their decision making.