In terms of educational influence, what role does previous positive experience with a learner play in grading?

Previous positive experiences with a learner can lead to halo grading, which occurs when an instructor's overall impression of a student influences their assessment of specific attributes or behaviors. If an instructor has had positive experiences with a student in the past, they may unconsciously allow that bias to affect their grading, thus leading to more favorable evaluations. This is important to recognize, as it can compromise the objectivity of the grading process. In educational settings, awareness of halo grading is crucial so that instructors strive for fairness and accuracy by focusing solely on the specific aspects of a learner's performance rather than their overall impression or previous encounters.