I think that sitting behind the students can be quite effective from both a behavioural point of view (students don't know what direction you are looking in) and pedagogical (we're all looking at this from the same perspective).
I've seen studies that have shown that students retain better (learn more? I don't remember how it was worded) when they see hands writing out work as opposed to just writing showing up or pre-written work.
I’ve always taught while standing. I think even if I used an iPad I would still stand because a big part of teaching and noticing and addressing what students are doing and that requires seeing them and moving about the room to see what math they are doing or how they are engaging with a lesson.
I class myself as older, but have worked with different tech over time. My last school initially had computers on podiums so staff couldn't sit to teach, which wasn't an issue but then I got a work iPad so sat more. Now back to standing at my new school.
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That was before lockdowns, though.
Interesting observation!