Influence of Globalization on Mathematics Content, Teaching Methods, and Resource Materials in Colleges of Education in Oyo State

Introduction

Globalization is a contemporary term used in various ways. To most scholars, globalization refers to the ideological and structural changes that are directed towards an understanding of the interconnection, especially trading, of people in different parts and areas of the world. The present form of globalization involves a combination of broad, cultural, economic, political, and technological forces that are changing the ground rules for human interaction on a worldwide scale (Kachur & Harrison, 1999).

Globalization is a recent phenomenon with its root in trade and commerce. It is a process of free exchange of goods and capitals across globe. The advancement of science and technology, revolution leading to the INTERNET, fastest means of transportation. have made the whole world a “global village” and globalization a new impetus. This means that globalization is a process wherein geographic distance becomes a factor of diminishing importance in the establishment and maintenance of cross border economic, political and socio-cultural relations. There is an emergence of global mass culture or a single world civilization. It has created a knowledge-based society. There is a shifting from a “real” community to a “virtual” community. The impact of globalization on Mathematics education is quite obvious. (www.geoiirj.com, 2012).

Globalisation processes have linked education to technological and economic development. For instance, global collaboration is essential for moving Mathematics education forward in this globalised world and at the same time avoiding the colonialism of the past and allowing the discipline to play its role in bridging the ever-increasing gap between countries (Atweh & Clarkson, 2005, Udofa & Udo, 2013).

Globalization has reinforced the utilitarian approach to school Mathematics and the Western bias in the prevailing Mathematics curricula, as well as helped to globalize pervasive Mathematical ideologies. In most instances, a new-found status that Mathematics is enjoying in this era of globalization is not well deserved, as school Mathematics can no longer be considered culturally, socially, politically, nor economically neutral. In particular, school Mathematics is increasingly critiqued as a cultural homogenizing force, a critical filter for status, a perpetuator of mistaken illusions of certainty, and an instrument of power (Smith, 2000). With such concerns, it is becoming more evident that Mathematics learning and education have implications for building just and democratic societies. This is the reason why the culture of globalization has equally engendered the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which seek to address issues of poverty, education, equality, wealth and environment and the Education For All Goals to be achieved (Obomanu & Adaramola, 2011). In view of these, globalization has deeply affected Mathematics education in schools since Mathematics is regarded as the peak for decision making (Udofa & Udo, 2013).

The teaching of traditional Mathematics itself raises the issue of how access to Mathematical knowledge is controlled. In a more traditional classroom, there is a rigid notion of truth that is reinforced as the teacher and/or textbooks are the sole source to evaluating the correctness of an answer. Usually problems presented to students are stripped of their social and practical contexts, while the language employed elevates agency from humans to Mathematical processes.

Denvir (1988) asserts that teaching problem-solving strategies may simply involve coaching and cramming, and rehearsed responses to evaluative assessment aimed at covering up weakness and encouraging students to adopt mechanistic behaviors. Scholars such as Denvir argue that even some of the most recent research-based reforms such as teaching heuristics might not be solutions but rather symptoms of problems of modern schooling.