Index: lams_tool_assessment/conf/language/lams/ApplicationResources.properties
===================================================================
diff -u -r2d760fc4af01f96960c448eb638c99d5c642a78d -r0f91c5ccc4cb27ccd6afa12a7be94f071247c99f
--- lams_tool_assessment/conf/language/lams/ApplicationResources.properties	(.../ApplicationResources.properties)	(revision 2d760fc4af01f96960c448eb638c99d5c642a78d)
+++ lams_tool_assessment/conf/language/lams/ApplicationResources.properties	(.../ApplicationResources.properties)	(revision 0f91c5ccc4cb27ccd6afa12a7be94f071247c99f)
@@ -244,6 +244,7 @@
 label.submit = Finish
 label.authoring.advance.numbered.questions = Enable questions' numbering
 label.learning.draft.autosaved = Draft autosaved
+label.learning.draft.autosave.error = Lost connection to the server. The page will reload. Check your connection and close any other opened tabs with LAMS. If this keeps happening, inform your teacher. 
 label.waiting.for.leader = Please, wait while somebody will become a group leader and enter this activity.
 label.users.from.group = Other learners in your group:
 label.use.select.leader.tool.output = Use leaders from Select Leader tool
Index: lams_tool_assessment/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/assessment/web/controller/LearningController.java
===================================================================
diff -u -r0064b9c51de455391610c9305c6f5a16c9ccc524 -r0f91c5ccc4cb27ccd6afa12a7be94f071247c99f
--- lams_tool_assessment/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/assessment/web/controller/LearningController.java	(.../LearningController.java)	(revision 0064b9c51de455391610c9305c6f5a16c9ccc524)
+++ lams_tool_assessment/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/assessment/web/controller/LearningController.java	(.../LearningController.java)	(revision 0f91c5ccc4cb27ccd6afa12a7be94f071247c99f)
@@ -699,22 +699,28 @@
 
     /**
      * auto saves responses
+     *
+     * @throws IOException
      */
     @RequestMapping("/autoSaveAnswers")
     @ResponseStatus(HttpStatus.OK)
-    public void autoSaveAnswers(HttpServletRequest request)
-	    throws IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, NoSuchMethodException {
+    @ResponseBody
+    public String autoSaveAnswers(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response)
+	    throws IllegalAccessException, InvocationTargetException, NoSuchMethodException, IOException {
 	SessionMap<String, Object> sessionMap = getSessionMap(request);
 	if (sessionMap == null) {
 	    log.warn("No sessionMap found in session for user: " + request.getRemoteUser());
-	    return;
+	    response.sendError(HttpServletResponse.SC_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR, "No session found for the user");
+	    return null;
 	}
 	int pageNumber = (Integer) sessionMap.get(AssessmentConstants.ATTR_PAGE_NUMBER);
 
 	//get user answers from request and store them into sessionMap
 	storeUserAnswersIntoSessionMap(request, pageNumber);
 	//store results from sessionMap into DB
 	storeUserAnswersIntoDatabase(sessionMap, true);
+
+	return "ok";
     }
 
     @RequestMapping("/vsaAutocomplete")
Index: lams_tool_assessment/web/pages/learning/learning.jsp
===================================================================
diff -u -r5a579db63172ae32b83984fb7cde499217bbcdd4 -r0f91c5ccc4cb27ccd6afa12a7be94f071247c99f
--- lams_tool_assessment/web/pages/learning/learning.jsp	(.../learning.jsp)	(revision 5a579db63172ae32b83984fb7cde499217bbcdd4)
+++ lams_tool_assessment/web/pages/learning/learning.jsp	(.../learning.jsp)	(revision 0f91c5ccc4cb27ccd6afa12a7be94f071247c99f)
@@ -331,16 +331,28 @@
 				//ajax form submit
 				$('#answers').ajaxSubmit({
 					url: "<c:url value='/learning/autoSaveAnswers.do'/>?sessionMapID=${sessionMapID}&date=" + new Date().getTime(),
-	                success: function() {
+	                success: function(response) {
+		                if (response != 'ok') {
+		                	 onLearnerAutosaveError();
+		                	 return;
+			            }
+			            
 		                $.jGrowl(
 		                	"<i class='fa fa-lg fa-floppy-o'></i> <fmt:message key="label.learning.draft.autosaved" />",
 		                	{ life: 2000, closeTemplate: '' }
 		                );
-	                }
+	                },
+	                error : onLearnerAutosaveError
 				});
 			}
+			
 			var autosaveInterval = "30000"; // 30 seconds interval
 			window.setInterval(learnerAutosave, autosaveInterval);
+
+			function onLearnerAutosaveError() {
+				alert('<fmt:message key="label.learning.draft.autosave.error" />');
+				location.reload();
+			}
 		</c:if>
 		
 		//check if we came back due to failed answers' validation (missing required question's answer or min words limit not reached)