This video from Sears PartsDirect shows how to replace a broken heating element in some electric water heaters. A typical electric water heater uses two heating elements to heat and maintain hot water. A defective heating element will not produce any heat, causing the water heater to make only a little hot water before it runs cold. If your water heater runs out of hot water quickly, then one of the two heating elements has probably failed and you may need to replace it.

(0:00) Introduction
(0:33) Step 1: Shut off the electricity
(0:37) Step 2: Drain the water heater
(1:01) Step 3: Remove the heating element’s access cover
(1:08) Step 4: Remove the plastic shield
(1:12) Step 5: Disconnect the heating element wire connections
(1:17) Step 6: Remove the heating element
(1:23) Step 7: Install the new heating element
(1:27) Step 8: Connect the heating element wire connections
(1:30) Step 9: Install the plastic shield
(1:36) Step 10: Reinstall the access cover
(1:40) Step 11: Close the drain valve
(1:45) Step 12: Fill the tank with water
(1:59) Step 13: Restore power

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The video includes these parts. Look up your model to make sure you get the right parts for your water heater.
Heating element
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Transcript:
A typical electric water heater uses two heating elements to heat and maintain hot water. A defective heating element will not produce any heat, causing the water heater to make only a little hot water before it runs cold. If your water heater runs out of hot water quickly, then one of the two heating elements has probably failed. Replace it using the steps in this video. Before you begin, wear work gloves to protect your hands. Switch the two house circuit breakers dedicated to the water heater OFF. Turn off the cold water supply to the water heater. Attach a garden hose to the drain valve and run the hose outside or to a location where the water can drain. Open a hot water faucet in the house or flip the relief valve open on the water heater. Open the drain valve and allow the tank to drain until empty. Tip: You don't have to drain all the water if you're only replacing the top heating element. If you're replacing the lower heating element, drain all the water. Remove the screw on the heating element’s access cover and pull off the cover. Fold the insulation back to expose the heating element. Lift up the tab on the top of the plastic shield and pull it off. Loosen the screws securing the wires to the heating element and disconnect the wires. Unscrew the heating element from the tank using a heating element socket. Pull the heating element out of the tank. Insert the new heating element in the tank and tighten it firmly. Reconnect the wires to the new heating element and tighten the screws. Reinstall the plastic shield over the thermostat and heating element. Fold the insulation back in place. Reinstall the heating element cover and screw. Close the drain valve and remove the garden hose. Flip the relief valve to the closed position. Turn the cold water supply on to the water heater and allow the tank to fill with water. Once you see water coming out of the hot water faucet, turn the hot water faucet off. Warning: Don't restore power to the water heater until the tank is full of water. Flip the house circuit breakers to the ON position.