Globalization in mathematics education: Integrating indigenous and academic knowledge

A globalized world ask for mobilization of educators in view of the design of new curricula. Investigation and analysis of indigenous knowledge are needed in view of their possible integration with academic knowledge, to create an educational context where different cultures are equally valued and granted dignity. The investigation and the analysis are to refer also to mathematics, a discipline which cannot anymore be considered culture-free. In the paper, we try to give the readers the opportunity to ask themselves and answer the following questions: What is mathematics? How look like today’s classrooms? Which is the needed mathematics education? The author suggests a possible answer to the last question by the proposal of three teaching units originated by the analysis of examples of the mathematics of professionals, the mathematics of indigenous people, the history of mathematics Introduction.