Index: lams_learning/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/learning/presence/PresenceWebsocketServer.java
===================================================================
diff -u -r9c603f82a3332d5e2e5b290bcc550f263c09a8f8 -rce468d42d82aebffd852640018c2e80e8b42a914
--- lams_learning/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/learning/presence/PresenceWebsocketServer.java	(.../PresenceWebsocketServer.java)	(revision 9c603f82a3332d5e2e5b290bcc550f263c09a8f8)
+++ lams_learning/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/learning/presence/PresenceWebsocketServer.java	(.../PresenceWebsocketServer.java)	(revision ce468d42d82aebffd852640018c2e80e8b42a914)
@@ -295,11 +295,13 @@
 	    return;
 	}
 	JSONObject requestJSON = new JSONObject(input);
-	String requestType = requestJSON.getString("type");
-	if (requestType.equals("message")) {
+	switch (requestJSON.getString("type")) {
+	case "message":
 	    PresenceWebsocketServer.storeMessage(requestJSON, session);
-	} else if (requestType.equals("fetchConversation")) {
+	    break;
+	case "fetchConversation":
 	    PresenceWebsocketServer.sendConversation(requestJSON, session);
+	    break;
 	}
     }
 
@@ -380,6 +382,21 @@
 	return messageJSON;
     }
 
+    public static int getActiveUserCount(long lessonId) {
+	Set<Websocket> lessonWebsockets = PresenceWebsocketServer.websockets.get(lessonId);
+	if (lessonWebsockets == null) {
+	    return 0;
+	}
+	// there can be few websockets (browser windows) for a single learner
+	Set<String> activeNicknames = new TreeSet<String>();
+	synchronized (lessonWebsockets) {
+	    for (Websocket websocket : lessonWebsockets) {
+		activeNicknames.add(websocket.nickName);
+	    }
+	}
+	return activeNicknames.size();
+    }
+
     private static IPresenceChatService getPresenceChatService() {
 	if (PresenceWebsocketServer.presenceChatService == null) {
 	    WebApplicationContext ctx = WebApplicationContextUtils
Index: lams_learning/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/learning/web/action/LearnerAction.java
===================================================================
diff -u -r3dbf966d900adefc34cdad501d3c392118451cd9 -rce468d42d82aebffd852640018c2e80e8b42a914
--- lams_learning/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/learning/web/action/LearnerAction.java	(.../LearnerAction.java)	(revision 3dbf966d900adefc34cdad501d3c392118451cd9)
+++ lams_learning/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/learning/web/action/LearnerAction.java	(.../LearnerAction.java)	(revision ce468d42d82aebffd852640018c2e80e8b42a914)
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 import org.apache.struts.action.ActionMapping;
 import org.apache.tomcat.util.json.JSONException;
 import org.apache.tomcat.util.json.JSONObject;
+import org.lamsfoundation.lams.learning.presence.PresenceWebsocketServer;
 import org.lamsfoundation.lams.learning.service.ICoreLearnerService;
 import org.lamsfoundation.lams.learning.service.LearnerServiceProxy;
 import org.lamsfoundation.lams.learning.web.bean.ActivityURL;
@@ -257,6 +258,15 @@
 	return mapping.findForward("displayProgress");
     }
 
+    public ActionForward getPresenceChatActiveUserCount(ActionMapping mapping, ActionForm form,
+	    HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) throws IOException {
+	Long lessonId = WebUtil.readLongParam(request, AttributeNames.PARAM_LESSON_ID);
+	int count = PresenceWebsocketServer.getActiveUserCount(lessonId);
+	response.setContentType("text/plain;charset=utf-8");
+	response.getWriter().print(count);
+	return null;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Converts an activity in learner progress to a JSON object.
      */
Index: lams_monitoring/conf/language/lams/ApplicationResources.properties
===================================================================
diff -u -rf295ad79de8fe9d221c166fa90587d0be2fdda5b -rce468d42d82aebffd852640018c2e80e8b42a914
--- lams_monitoring/conf/language/lams/ApplicationResources.properties	(.../ApplicationResources.properties)	(revision f295ad79de8fe9d221c166fa90587d0be2fdda5b)
+++ lams_monitoring/conf/language/lams/ApplicationResources.properties	(.../ApplicationResources.properties)	(revision ce468d42d82aebffd852640018c2e80e8b42a914)
@@ -221,6 +221,7 @@
 lesson.enable.presence  =Allow learners to see who is online
 lesson.enable.presence.alert  =Now learners can see who is online
 lesson.disable.presence.alert  =Now learners can not see who is online
+lesson.presence.count =users
 lesson.enable.im  =Enable Instant Messaging
 lesson.enable.im.alert  =Instant Messaging is now enabled
 lesson.disable.im.alert  =Instant Messaging is now disabled
Index: lams_monitoring/web/includes/javascript/monitorLesson.js
===================================================================
diff -u -r27a58f395dec9927221147dac08a0b75213fd354 -rce468d42d82aebffd852640018c2e80e8b42a914
--- lams_monitoring/web/includes/javascript/monitorLesson.js	(.../monitorLesson.js)	(revision 27a58f395dec9927221147dac08a0b75213fd354)
+++ lams_monitoring/web/includes/javascript/monitorLesson.js	(.../monitorLesson.js)	(revision ce468d42d82aebffd852640018c2e80e8b42a914)
@@ -489,21 +489,21 @@
 		counter = $('#presenceAvailableCount');
 	if (checked) {
 		$.ajax({
-			dataType : 'json',
-			url : LAMS_URL + 'PresenceChat.do',
+			dataType : 'text',
+			url : LAMS_URL + 'learning/learner.do',
 			cache : false,
 			data : {
-				'method'    : 'getChatContent',
+				'method'    : 'getPresenceChatActiveUserCount',
 				'lessonID'      : lessonId
 			},
 			success : function(result) {
-				$('span', counter).text(result.roster.length);
-				counter.css('display', null);
+				$('span', counter).text(result);
+				counter.show();
 			}
 		});
 
 	} else {
-		counter.css('display', 'none');
+		counter.hide();
 	}
 }