Elementari could be called a storytelling software tool or it could be called a coding teaching app, and both would be accurate.
The idea here is to integrate teaching coding and working with arts and literacy, for true integrated STEAM learning. The goal is to use the coding to create stories, games, and the like, in order to learn code without actively having to focus on that part alone.
The company that created this is eager to also push forward the point that this helps with problem solving, critical thinking, and collaboration. And that it covers a wide range of ages from first grade to teens.
This guide aims to explain Elementari so you can decide if it could help your class.
What is Elementari?
Elementari is a coding platform that uses the arts to teach the science of coding. This works by offering a space to create stories and more with guidance that should mean anyone, even those with zero experience, can begin coding right away.
The system works with standards-aligned tasks so teachers can set STEAM-friendly projects that align with students’ progression needs. Thanks to the level of guidance, and inclusivity features such as Read To Me, this can potentially support student-led solo learning in class.
The huge library of projects makes it possible to use those already created for editing as a way to create without having to go from scratch.
Everything is designed with a Google Slides influence, so anyone who has used that should find this easy to pick up right away.
How does Elementari work?
Elementari is about creating artistic projects but it works in a two-level way: the front end for media and the back end for coding actions.
Students can begin by either starting from scratch, editing the project of another creator, or by following dedicated lesson plans. This latter choice is a good place to begin as it offers guidance on how to progress and build a story.
Students can access a host of media including images, text, music, illustrations, and voice-overs to use as needed. They are then also able to work with the block-based coding for elements such as events, functions, variables and objects. Students work between these two levels to create the final story that can be read by others, similar to clicking through a slides-based project.
Once published, projects can be shared with the wider Elementari community worldwide.
What are the best Elementari features?
Elementari uses the two layers of that Layout Design tool to work with the media and an Event Graph tool to work with the code-based actions. This is a really helpful way for students to build across those two levels to get creative and make something that’s interactive as well as informative.
The community is a helpful resource as there are lots of other published stories that can be remixed. Students also have access to a wide array of originally created images, sounds, and more that make for a broad resource when creating stories. It also allows students to create and upload their own media, to feel part of that sharing community, but also to see — through automated tagging — how their creations are being used by others in their stories.
Teachers can create classroom groups, which makes sharing and monitoring outputs simple. The auto-tagging and notifications of content used by others is really helpful for teaching the importance of copyright, as students get to experience it live in the community.
Crucially, this is a platform that makes coding a fun tool even for those students who might otherwise not be interested.
How much does Elementari cost?
Elementari offers some free options as well as paid for tiers to get access for students and teachers.
The Free tier works for up to 35 students and offers a single classroom space, limited interactive lessons, and limited assets library access.
The Educator tier, at $8/month billed annually, gets you the above as well as unlimited interactive lessons and assets, plus image uploads, student feedback, and tracking of student analytics.
Go for the Educator Plus option, at $25/month billed annually, and you get the above plus 150 students access, unlimited classrooms, premium training, and professional development.
The School/District tier, at custom pricing from $2 per student per year, gets you the above plus more than 150 students, teacher accounts, and 24/7 priority support.
Elementari best tips and tricks
Start a class project
Follow a guided story creation as a class to get the basics of how this works together.
Hand in
Have students submit work created in this system to showcase their learning on a subject while presenting creatively.
Group up
Ask students to create resources as a group, someone making images, another recording voice-overs, another writing, and so on.