diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
index 9a2db5c..06ea335 100644
--- a/app.py
+++ b/app.py
@@ -2326,7 +2326,7 @@ def handle_activity_response(room_name, user_response, username):
                     activity_state.add_metadata(random_key, random_value)
 
                 # Execute the processing script if it exists
-                if "processing_script" in step:
+                if "processing_script" in step and transition.get("run_processing_script", False):
                     result = execute_processing_script(
                         activity_state.dict_metadata, step["processing_script"]
                     )
diff --git a/research/activity22-odds-or-evens.yaml b/research/activity22-odds-or-evens.yaml
index d3fa106..50767a3 100644
--- a/research/activity22-odds-or-evens.yaml
+++ b/research/activity22-odds-or-evens.yaml
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ sections:
           - exit
         transitions:
           throw_fingers:
+            run_processing_script: True
             ai_feedback:
               tokens_for_ai: "Declare your move and then determine who wins the game and provide a witty fact from the historical figure's perspective."
             metadata_add:
diff --git a/research/activity24-math-plot.yaml b/research/activity24-math-plot.yaml
index 52c5630..286747c 100644
--- a/research/activity24-math-plot.yaml
+++ b/research/activity24-math-plot.yaml
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ sections:
           - exit
         transitions:
           correct:
+            run_processing_script: True
             ai_feedback:
               tokens_for_ai: "Great job! You correctly described the plot of your function."
             metadata_add:
diff --git a/research/activity27-tic-tac-toe.yaml b/research/activity27-tic-tac-toe.yaml
index f0a3889..748e0dd 100644
--- a/research/activity27-tic-tac-toe.yaml
+++ b/research/activity27-tic-tac-toe.yaml
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ sections:
           ai_moves = metadata.get("ai_moves", [])
           ai_move = None
           board = [" "] * 9
-          for move in user_moves[:-1]:
+          for move in user_moves:
               board[int(move)] = "X"
           for move in ai_moves:
               board[int(move)] = "O"
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ sections:
           # Check if the move is valid
           if 0 <= user_move < 9 and board[user_move] == " ":
               board[user_move] = "X"
+              user_moves.append(user_move)
 
               user_wins = check_win(board, "X")
 
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ sections:
               }
 
           # Debugging: Print the current board state
-          #print("Current board state:", board)
+          print("Current board state:", board)
 
         buckets:
           - valid_move
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ sections:
           - exit
         transitions:
           valid_move:
+            run_processing_script: True
             ai_feedback:
               tokens_for_ai: |
                 Use the processing_script metadata to update the board!
@@ -135,22 +137,14 @@ sections:
 
             metadata_tmp_add:
               user_move: "the-users-response"
-            metadata_append:
-              user_moves: "the-users-response"
             next_section_and_step: "section_1:step_1"
           invalid_move:
             ai_feedback:
               tokens_for_ai: "That move is invalid. Please choose an empty position between 0 and 8."
             metadata_tmp_add:
               user_move: "the-users-response"
-            metadata_append:
-              user_moves: "the-users-response"
             next_section_and_step: "section_1:step_1"
           exit:
-            metadata_tmp_add:
-              user_move: "the-users-response"
-            metadata_append:
-              user_moves: "the-users-response"
             next_section_and_step: "section_1:step_2"
 
       - step_id: "step_2"
diff --git a/research/guarded_ai.py b/research/guarded_ai.py
index 0bfd4d6..85ed817 100644
--- a/research/guarded_ai.py
+++ b/research/guarded_ai.py
@@ -290,11 +290,15 @@ def simulate_activity(yaml_file_path):
                 metadata_tmp_keys.append(random_key)  # Track temporary keys
 
             # Execute the processing script if it exists
-            if "processing_script" in step:
+            if "processing_script" in step and transition.get("run_processing_script", False):
                 result = execute_processing_script(metadata, step["processing_script"])
                 metadata["processing_script_result"] = result
                 metadata_tmp_keys.append("processing_script_result")
 
+                # Update metadata with results from the processing script
+                for key, value in result.get("metadata", {}).items():
+                    metadata[key] = value
+
             print(f"\nMetadata: {json.dumps(metadata, indent=2)}")
 
             # Provide feedback based on the category