External keyboard behavior - iPad pro

I’ve been using external keyboards (Logitech) for the past couple of months, but since the latest update behavior has apparently become modal. In one mode, behavior is normal: I can type in a field and letters appear appropriately. In another mode, the alphanumeric keys don’t work, but other keys (tab, for example) switch the focus, outlined in blue, from one field to another. On the Home Screen, focus switches from app icon to app icon, while in Safari the focus switches from the address section to an open entry field or even to the entire screen.

I’m sure this is useful to some, but I can’t seem to switch from one mode to the other, and this behavior has rendered my external keyboard useless, and in turn has greatly affected the usefulness of the iPad itself. I can type faster on an external keyboard, and the pop up keyboard obscures some things I need to see in order to work. I’m hoping there’s a Setting I can change to fix this.

Any suggestions for avoiding this behavior or at least controlling it would be welcome.