This Document applies to all CAD labs that have Satechi wired keyboards, this is a Satechi wired keyboard:

In the case that you want to consistently use one of these keyboards to input the function keys along the top row, and have run into trouble with the MacOS shortcut keys overriding the F-key functions (Example: F1 decreasing the system brightness instead of doing what your program expects) there are two ways to remedy this.

Solution 1: 

in the case that you need only to use one or two function keys, and would like to do so quickly:

In this case the most effective way to use the function row is by simply holding the Fn key and then tapping the function key you would like to pass as it's F-key variant and not it's shortcut variant. as can be seen here:

for example, pressing Fn + F1 Will pass F1 as a key command to the computer in question without adjusting the brightness

this can be done with any combination of Fn and F-key, but will only pass the F-keys as long as you are also holding down Fn

Solution 2: 

in the case that you would like to toggle off the shortcut features of the function row, and only use it as F-keys:

In this case, the Satechi keyboards can be toggled into a mode where the function row only operates as F1-F19 and not as any MacOS specific shortcuts, this can be enabled by pressing Fn + Esc at the same time, which will toggle functionality of the function row from shortcuts to F-keys. This can be toggled back to default by issuing the same Fn + Esc shortcut again which will put you back in the default mode of the keyboards. An example of the keys needed can be seen here:

for example, pressing Fn + Esc then pressing any F-key (F1 through F19) will send the requisite F-key command to the computer in question without operating the associated shortcuts.

this can be done with any of the F-keys and they will remain operating as F-keys until you issue the Fn + Esc at which point the F-keys will be returned to their shortcut functions (Example: F1 changing the brightness.)

This toggle will not be retained through restart or through the keyboard being unplugged, as such if you need to restart the Mac and would like to maintain the function row as F1 through F19 you will need to reissue the Fn + Esc shortcut after the computer has restarted, or the keyboard has been plugged back in.