I experienced both learning as a child and learning as an adult. As a child I was taught toi read music, how to hold the bow, how to play various etudes and music and playing the the school orchestra.

When I graduated and went on to high school they had a band rather than an orchestra so, no need for string players. I did practice on my own at home now and then but I wasn't really learning anything new. Eventually I put the violin (which needed repairs) down and I didn't pick up a violin for about 40 years.

One evening my folks gave me an inexpensive student violin that they found on sale at a discount store while shopping. I don't recall the brand but for a cheapo it sounded reasonably good with good strings and came with a nice case.  I started off by playing stuff I remembered playing as a child and then using the Internet I started  teaching myself new techniques that I didn't learn in the past, taught myself higher finger positions, vibrato, etc. Then one day I loaned the violin to my neice who was taking lessons in school. I never got it back and I really missed having a violin around. I was anxious to keep on playing and relearning, So I saved up some money and bought a decent quality violin and box and case. The Luthier I bought it from did a really great job setting it up and adjusting it and once again I was off practicing and learning again improving my playing and improving my music reading skills as well.

Finally one big break came along. Through one of the local newspapers I learned of a local, audition free, amateur orchestra in my area. I decided to join. It was the best thing I ever did as far as music was concerned. At first playing in the orchestra was extremely hard. I couldn't follow the conductor and play at the same time, the pieces we were playing were much harder than anything I ever attempted before. Regardless I stuck with it and slowly I started coming around. I would say that through the orchestra I learned a lot and it was one of the lest enhancements to learning to play the violin. First off my music reading skills improved rapidly and dramatically. My sense of timing improved as I learned to follow the conductor and watch for his cues. Gradually the music looked less and less as hard and i was playing more and more of it. Learned a lot of new techniques, i.e. tremolo, pizzicato, learned to pay attention and understand dynamics , etc. There is also the sense of satisfaction and fulfillment of contributing to the success of the orchestra as well as playing along with other violinists and other instruments and working together as a team. I would say that joining the orchestra was probably the greatest enhancement to my learning and vastly improving my violin playing abilities,

I would strongly advise anyone who is learning the violin (or any instrument), regardless of age (young or old) to jump on the opportunity to join a local amateur orchestra or a music group of some type. If there are no local groups or orchestras in your area see if you gan get something started. Even if you can just get together with a few other players and form a local practice group that meets once a month or whatever. I think you will find it both enjoyable, satisfying, and, a major help in your learning experience.