Update to 3 in STEP and README.md

Author: github-actions[bot]

.github/steps/-step.txt

@@ -1 +1 @@
-2
+3

README.md

@@ -15,47 +15,69 @@ _Write your own GitHub JavaScript Action and automate customized tasks unique to
 </header>
 
 <!--
-  <<< Author notes: Step 2 >>>
+  <<< Author notes: Step 3 >>>
   Start this step by acknowledging the previous step.
   Define terms and link to docs.github.com.
 -->
 
-## Step 2: Configure Your Action
+## Step 3: Create the metadata file
 
-_Let's keep going! :bike:_
+_Nice work configuring your action :smile:_
 
-### Excellent!
+## Action metadata
 
-Now that we have the custom action pre-requisites, let us create **joke-action** action.
+Every GitHub Action that we write needs to be accompanied by a metadata file. This file has a few rules to it, as are indicated below:
 
-### :keyboard: Activity 1: Configure Your Action
+- Filename **must** be `action.yml`.
+- Required for both Docker container and JavaScript actions.
+- Written in YAML syntax.
+
+This file defines the following information about your action:
+
+| Parameter   | Description                                                                                                                                            |      Required      |
+| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | :----------------: |
+| Name        | The name of your action. Helps visually identify the actions in a job.                                                                                 | :white_check_mark: |
+| Description | A summary of what your action does.                                                                                                                    | :white_check_mark: |
+| Inputs      | Input parameters allow you to specify data that the action expects to use during runtime. These parameters become environment variables in the runner. |        :x:         |
+| Outputs     | Specifies the data that subsequent actions can use later in the workflow after the action that defines these outputs has run.                          |        :x:         |
+| Runs        | The command to run when the action executes.                                                                                                           | :white_check_mark: |
+| Branding    | You can use a color and Feather icon to create a badge to personalize and distinguish your action in GitHub Marketplace.                               |        :x:         |
+
+---
+
+Read more about [Action metadata](https://help.github.com/en/actions/automating-your-workflow-with-github-actions/metadata-syntax-for-github-actions)
+
+### :keyboard: Activity 1: Create the metadata file
 
 All of the following steps take place inside of the `.github/actions/joke-action` directory.
 
-We will start with using the parameters that are **required** and later implement some optional parameters as our action evolves.
+Our action does not require much metadata for it to run correctly. We will not be accepting any inputs, we will however be setting a single output this time.
 
-1. Create a new file in: `.github/actions/joke-action/action.yml`
-2. Add the following contents to the `.github/actions/joke-action/action.yml` file:
+1. Update the action metadata file `.github/actions/joke-action/action.yml` with the following content:
 
    ```yaml
    name: "my joke action"
 
    description: "use an external API to retrieve and display a joke"
 
+   outputs:
+     joke-output:
+       description: The resulting joke from the icanhazdadjokes API
+
    runs:
      using: "node16"
      main: "main.js"
    ```
 
-3. Save the `action.yml` file
-4. Commit the changes and push them to the `main` branch:
+2. Save the `action.yml` file
+3. Commit the changes and push them to GitHub:
    ```shell
    git add action.yml
-   git commit -m 'create action.yml'
-   git pull
+   git pull   
+   git commit -m 'add metadata for the joke action'
    git push
    ```
-5. Wait about 20 seconds then refresh this page (the one you're following instructions from). [GitHub Actions](https://docs.github.com/en/actions) will automatically update to the next step.
+4. Wait about 20 seconds then refresh this page (the one you're following instructions from). [GitHub Actions](https://docs.github.com/en/actions) will automatically update to the next step.
 
 <footer>