I disagree. Although I haven't taken an officail online course, I did one class that way. Some local Colleges do online courses with web meeting and group discussion and meetings. Whats the real difference, most traditional courses, you just have to pass the test and hand in assignments. I one way it take a bit more disapline to take online courses. You can also test out of college courses. So you wouldn't hire someone who tested out of a bunch of courses from a major university? Some of the highest paid engineers don't have degrees. They got their 'knowlege' by on hands experience. Mostly english guys who raced on old airport tarmacs over in England. Also think of the likes of Robert Yates etc. in NASCAR. I know of a few people who have taken these courses. I think most had a previous degree of some sort. I would hire them.
Tom